Week of Meetings

We had 2 six hour meetings this week. 

They were so good. But I got worn out. 

We are trying so hard to reach a goal we set for new investigators. We are so stinking close! We have had miracles, and we expect more miracles to happen. If you can pray for us, that would be awesome. 

Sadly, I didn't take any good pictures this week. But... My week was fun.

Elder Fairbanks and I are working so hard. We get tired, but we are doing our best. Leo's date has been pushed back so that Rosel(his dad) can baptize him. We are excited and anxious to find out what day he can do it. I just ask that you keep him in your prayers. Evelyn is doing really good and it seems like she is starting to be more comfortable with us. She laughs and makes comments. We are going to continue to earn her trust and wait for the right moment when she asks us when she can be baptized. Keep her in your prayers as well. I will send you pictures of them next week so you can have a face to their names.

On Tuesday I got to go on an exchange with my good friend Elder Flores Martinez. He is super cool. He is from Mexico, and has the Mexican humor. Its so funny! We had a good time. We found a super less active Jew (jew...ish... get it? lol) that wanted to know more about the church. When she read the first vision, she turned to look at us and said "that is beautiful." She looked down and started to cry. It was so humbling. I believe that God really did come down to speak with Joseph Smith. And the Spirit does testify to people that our message is true. I really liked this exchange because it wasn't very well planned, but we were able to be guided to those that would receive us. I liked it also because we spoke in Spanish practically the whole time. I am grateful that I have this opportunity to speak another language. Although I don't speak it super well, it makes me feel cool.

Conrad is an awesome man from Cuba. We had 2 very intense lessons this week where we explained the authority. He is starting to understand more and more. He came to church, and this week was a bigger sacrifice because we drove to Newark's chapel for an awesome multi-stake conference. They broadcasted it from... Utah... I think... and Elder Hales, Elder Andersen, and Sister Reeves and Elder Kacher all spoke. Their talks were designed for Rosel's family and for Conrad. Please pray for Conrad. He is like my 50 year old brother. He is so cool and so fun.

Elizabeth is cool. Its pretty hood. Our apartment, though, is gross. It is bug infested and the floors are all messed up, but it's home. And I kind of like it. It's big and it's bright. It has a good feeling about it. And it doesn't feel unclean.

Well...

That was my week. Learning to love the people. 

Pray for your missionary!

Waz Good

Jersey Strong

Life is good in the gospel

God will provide

Love you

Here Comes The Sun

This week felt like summer.

Monday was a good day. We spent it with the Olortegui family. Then goodbyes. It was sad to say goodbye, but I thought I had gotten used to it. I was doing super good at not getting too emotional until we drove up to the branch president's home. My companion blindfolded me and took me out to the backyard. A lot of the branch was there to say goodbye. We sat in a circle and they told me what they liked about me. I got super emotional. I shared my testimony at the end. Told them I loved them. It was hard because I was crying really bad. I feel kind of silly now. I love them all a lot. It was a night to remember.

I am now in Elizabeth with Elder Fairbanks. He came in with Elder Palmer, and his trainer is my adopted trainer. Elder Fairbanks and I have served around each other before. I was his zone leader for 2 transfers in Caldwell. Now I am serving with him! Its funny, we were reading through his journal I had signed and we read what I wrote. I wrote that we had comp unity... and I didn't even know why. He is so chill and super focused. He works so hard. I am excited to learn from him.

I am serving around Elder Muro again! Its crazy.... I have served around him my whole mission!

There is a family here that will be getting baptized soon. Leo is the 10 year old son. He is so smart. He is a prodigy. His father is a returning less active named Rosel. His wife is Evelyn. She isn't sure if she wants to get baptized yet, but leo should be getting baptized in about two or three weeks.

I was lucky enough to go see Sandra get baptized! She is so happy.

I am grateful for the people I met in Caldwell. I love them. I love my companion. We didn't get along too well, but he taught me so much and really helped me to have confidence in myself.

I am grateful for this opportunity to serve here in Elizabeth. I already love it here.

My companion and I are going to find miracles here.

I am a happy missionary.

waz good

jersey strong

life is good in the gospel

love you all

Caldwell threw me a big going away party. 

I cried like a lil baby. It was awesome. I love them. 

Goodbye Vaca Family

goodbye elder gonzalez esquivel

goodbye family arrieta

goodbye rivera/cielo

goodbye olortegui

 goodbye carranzas

 Carranzas gave me the coolest sweater :)

Nancy made me my favorite soup!

Beautiful New Jersey

I am in Elizabeth! It is the best! I am with Elder Fairbanks! :) I love it here already. We are going to have so much fun and we are working very hard.

Sister childs and I are serving together. She is the sister training leader here

So this baptism was in the sisters area of my last zone. Osmon is the left with his son and Harold is on the right. just really cool converts

Hello Elizabeth! (these are foster children of one of our members.

Farewell Caldwell

I am leaving Caldwell. We got the text last night and my name was the first one. Being transferred to another zone!

I am not sure how I feel right now... but this is what I can come up with: shocked, sad, nervous... but mostly I am excited! I am going to miss these people a lot. But I know that God always gives me more people to love. Its fun to get to know people. 

So lets see where I end up.

This week was pretty... average. There were 2 baptisms in our zone and we did the interviews for both of them. One was in Fardale. His name is Bill. This smiley face is what Bill looks like -->. Seriously. He is awesome! He is a good example of unshakeable faith in Jesus. And it makes him so happy. The other one was in Englewood. He is from Honduras. His name is Osmon. His super chill honduranean friend, Harold, baptized him. It was a tender moment. They were both so nervous, but it went perfectly.

Saturday we cut trees from 8:30-3:30. It was so warm. It felt so good. We cut down five trees. I enjoyed being destructive. Good stress reliever. But I got sunburned pretty bad. I'll send you some good pictures.

Sandra passed her interview and is being baptized next Sunday. Hollah! Depending on where I am, I will probably get to go to it. She asked me to confirm her, but I am not sure if I will be able to go two Sundays in a row... I need my area to flourish too.

Other than that... the week was pretty basic. 

So not a lot to say about last week. So I guess I will share what I have learned here in Caldwell. 

I have learned that we don't do anything to deserve the love our heavenly father gives us. I know he loves me. He shows me it in many ways. I trust Him more and more. I've learned to be patient with others. I have learned that God does his own work. I am grateful to be a part of that. I have learned how to love friends and how to make friends. 

I miss my family a ton! Happy Birthday Momma! You are an amazing missionary. You are a great example. And you are the best mom. I love you.

and I love you all. Pray for me and my new companion that we will work well together and that we can find those that He has prepared for us. Pray for Sandra and Alvaro.

Waz good

Jersey Strong

Life is good in the gospel

#LIGY

here comes the sun!

Goodbye Caldwell Friends

We struggle taking pictures!

Sunburn

Week 5 Daniela's Baptism and Easter

Honestly I have eight minutes to write this. Forgive me.

Daniela was baptized by my companion! I got to do the talk on baptism. It was on Easter! She was so happy. I was so happy for her. It was a battle for her, but she conquered. I am so grateful to be part of these people's lives! It is a blessing and a privilege to be their missionary. 

Check out our shout out at http://www.njmm.org/  President came and took some pictures.

General Conference was hands down the general conference I have learned the most. I took some notes. Sadly I cannot share all of my thoughts in this email. But here are some that stick with me.

God knows. you know. That is all that matters.

The things that count can rarely be counted.

Love more. Be more.

These men are inspired. 

Average is an enemy to excellence

I like those thoughts. I will send you pictures next week of the notes I took so you can read more of what I learned.

We have a goal of 1514 new investigators as a mission this month. Please pray for me and the 20 other missionaries in our zone so that we can do our part. We are committed to this goal. Your prayers will help. Then not only are we going to teach this many new people, the focus is to get them to the baptismal waters in May/June. Not only is it possible. It is probable.

I've shared this story with a lot of people. But check it out.

"Cool, brief story. I lost my SD card yesterday. I was so bummed. Pictures of some of my most dearest people from my mission were lost. I became obsessed with finding it. I prayed hard. I wanted to find it so bad. I didnt want to sleep. I didnt want to focus on anything else. All I wanted to do was find my precious SD card. I gave up. Couldnt find it. A little bit angry, I kneeled and prayed again. I begged with God. I then felt God tell me, "why dont you have this much desire to find my sons and daughters that need you?" It was one of those moments God lovingly rebukes you. 

I get it now. And it's quite pathetic. My priorities are in the wrong place.

I want to be obsessed with finding people. I want to be sleepless with the desire to find the people that I have lost. Where is my love for these people? Where is my focus? Its been an eye opener. And I love that God opened my eyes.

I found my SD card this morning. But even more importantly, I have found the desire to find. I am going to find my lost brothers and my sisters." 

Change your priorities. Love more. Be more. 

I am super grateful for our prophets and apostles. I love the Lord because He loved me first. I am passionate about that.

I want you to know:

waz good

To Be Jersey Strong

Life is good in the gospel

and most importantly, I want you to know

I LOVE YOU.